Doll-limb articulator



Jan. 3, 1928.

' M. D. HEYMAN DOLL was ARTICULATOR Filed Sept. 24, 1926 INVENTOR connecting the articulated members is by a T Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED"; STATES 'MosEs n. HEYMAN. OF'NEW 170311, N. 31., .ASSIGNOR' T0 AMERIC co. mo, OF-NEW YORK, N. Y..

1 DOLL-LIME AR'IVVIC-ULATOR.

v v Appucauoa ued September 24, 1 926. seriaiisrio, 137,433.

This invention relatesito improvements in frictional contact by elastic to tensional I means, passing from one memberto another through openings therein. 7 v

If anelastic band, such as rubber, be used, deteriorationsoon takes place, the rubber rapidly losing its efiiciency and the articulated members become loose to the point of failure in functioning;

of the object.

Another even more common method of coiled [wire itension spring, its ends being secured in-the respective abutting members.

Here too, if the normally abutting members be drawn apart to' 'stress the spring beyond its elastic limit, its failure is certain and the article is ruined.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a spring so ar-- ranged as to draw the members 1nto proper intimate relation and which, due to: the pro portions of its coil, acts as a. positive stop preventing separation of the connected, elements under any strain that can be imparted to them less than actual breakage.

A further feature is in'the provision of means to silence the movement of parts in assuming difierent postures.

Another purpose is to produce an articulating device that iseasily assembled with relation to the members, is substantially indestructible and capable of unlimited service.

These advantages are secured by-the novel combination and arrangement of simple and inexpensive parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which such bands are also subject to rupture byfthe exertion of a pull on the jointed members, causing destruction F iguref'l is a "side elevational'viewof a conventional-type of dolls leg, broken away to 'CllSOlOSO the'application of an embodiment of the invention. 1

Figure 2 is a similar View of parts of the same priorlto assembly. v

Figure 3 isa top plan view of the lower member of the limbbefore assembl The structure illustrated ist-ypica of mod ern doll 'construction,made of papier mach or like material, runwhen in a plastic condition into moulds whereby a desirable shape is obtained.

In the leg shown the lower-part, from the knee down including. the foot, is formed in .tWO hOllQW longitudinal sections, 5 and 6 respectively front and rear, eventually cons nected alonga sinuous line? at the sides,

this juction being unobservable in the'finished product.

These elements together form at the-top a semispherical seat member 8 having an outstanding band 9- at its base blendinginto the upper portion of the limb and formed 7 in the seat 8 is a narrowslot 10 formed partially in both elements 5 and 6 but more deeply into the latter] element for a reason thatwill later appear, v i i Theupper or thigh member 11, also usually made in two parts, containsa chamber12 having an opening l3lea'ding throu h to the concavesocket 14, conforming to t e sphericaliseat '8 and it will be Seen that the socket is so formed'as to make contact with the band9, which acts as a stop therefor when the leg is extended straight out and also when the joint is folded at an angle, the socket being shaped to permit-such movement.

The structure of the limb is however unimportant except as illustrating the application of the invention which ensues.

A stout wire rod 15 is upset at its end 16 after being passed through a metal washer 17 and seated on the washer is a disc 18 of larger diameter and considerable thickness composed of fiber or similar semisoft material, this discacting as a cushion to prevent noise when brought into contact with the interior of the limb.

A coiled compression spring 19 rests at its lower end on the disc 17 to loosely encircle PATENT FICE- CHARACTER DOLL the rod and has an expanded upper end, 20 impinging against the interior surface of the ball seat 8.

Therod 15 is formed at one end into an open loop 21 passing through the narrow slot 10 into the opening 13 and there engaging a bar 22 ifixed rigidly lengthwise and centrally of the opening, the length of the re-,

entrantly turned portion of said loop, which constitutes a hook, from its bight t'o theendthat time resting on the bottom of'the slot 10 against which it is forcibly drawn by the spring'19.

When assembled with the member 11, the

hook 21 is raised and connected over the bar 22, thus holding the upper and lower mem;

bers firmly together by the pressure exerted by the spring.

The frictional effect of the ball seat 8' and socket 14 suflices to retain the parts in any angular adjustment but permits changing positions, the soft edge of the disc 18 making no noise when coming in contact with the interior of theleg.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the spring 19 is so proportioned as to close its coils tightly upon drawing the limb members apartand before the ball seat has been retracted from its socket such distance as might interfere with its proper replacement, therefore acting as a stop inlimiting relative action.

Although I have described my improvements with considerable detail and with respect tocertain particular forms of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to such details since many changes and modificaof August, A. D. 1926. I

tions may well be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention in its broadest aspect.

.Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is z 1. An articulating device tor-two hollow abutting members having slots at their abut- Iting ends, said device comprising a bar fixed transversely in the slot of one member, a rod having a washer fixed at one end and a hook at the otherend, said hook being engageable with said bar, a coiled compression spring encircling said rod to thereby hold said members in abutting relation; said,v

spring contacting at one end with the inner V portion of said other member, the aggregate spaces between the coils of said spring exceeding but slightly the length of said hook, and a cushion element intermediate said washer and spring end, said element being in excess of the diameter" of the washer and adapted to contact the'interior of the member in which it is disposed upon relative movement o'lfsaid-memberss 2. A doll limb articulation comprising in, V

combinationfwith a hollow limb composed of two sections having ball-and-socket joints and containing communicating,passages, one of the passages being a narrow slot, of a bar fixed lengthwise in the other passage, a hook engagingfsaid bar, a rod extending from said hook through the pa'ssagesyinto the other limb section having the, narrow slot, said rod being upset, a washer fixedon the upset end of said rod, a coiled compression spring encircling said rod and abutting the inner end of the last named limb and saidwasher respectively whereby the limb sections are drawn together and a soft cushion discin terposed between said spring and washer,

said disc being of greater diameter than the ,QO

Signed at New York,in the county of New washer.

York and State of New'Y ork, this 24th day Moses 1). 

